Interchangeable type stamp devices



Jan. 19, 1960 1 w. K. MUNSQ 12,921,516

INTERCHANGEABLE TYPE STAMP DEVICES Filed March 12, 1956 15 1s -imj giL- EEE H 31 53 INVENTOR.

' 26 WHITNEY K. MUNSON BY 50 34 I '35 W ATTORNEY.

2,921,516 INTERCHANGEABLE TYPE STAMP DEVICES Whitney K. Munson, Red Bank, NJ.

Application March 12, 1956, Serial No. 570,885

9 Claims. (Cl. 101-381) This invention relates to what are generally referred to as rubber stamps employing rubber type or characterized portions for applying type or figures to sheets or other surfaces for identification or other purposes. More particularly, the invention deals with a device of the character described, employing a rod frame hingedly supported in a stamp body with means for exposing at least one end of the'rods for attachment and detachment of characterized type members therewith, including spacers for positioning said members on the stamp device.

Still more particularly, the invention deals in the method of producing the characterized type members for use in stamps of the kind under consideration.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a stamp made according to my invention, showing parts of the construction in section and, for sake of simplicity, omitting characterizations on outer surfaces of type members shown.

Fig. 2 is a section substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1, illustrating the characterized type members in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the pivot ends of one frame part in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, with part of the structure in elevation and part broken away.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion of a moulded characterized sheet, from which characterized type members are adapted to be formed; and

Fig. 6 is a partial enlarged sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, omitting part of the construction.

In Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, I have illustrated one adaptation and use of my invention, in which the stamp proper comprises a block 10, having, centrally thereof, a projecting handle member shown, in part, at 11 in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the block in the construction shown being oblong and rectangular in form. To the surface of the block is adhesively secured a highly yieldable sponge-like rubber backing 12, to which is adhesively secured a somewhat firmer but yieldable rubber casing 13, the casing being defined by a bottom wall 14, side walls 15 and end walls 16. The several walls form, within the casing, a chamber 17, within which, a plurality of characterized type members 18 are adapted to be arranged, so that the characterized outer portions 19 of said members, as noted in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, extend beyond outer edges of the walls 15 and 16.

Swingably supported in the casing 13 is a rod type member supporting frame 20, comprising, at one end, a pivot rod 21, having reduced pivot ends 22, extending into the side walls 15 adjacent one end wall 16, as clearly noted in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing.

Fixed to the rod 21 are a plurality of type member Patented Jan. 19, 1960 supporting rods 23, the number of which employed will depend upon the number of rows of members 18 to be constructed in the resulting stamp device.

The rods 23 are of dart-shape cross-sectional form, as clearly noted in Fig. 4 of the drawing, with the pointed end 24 of this dart shape extending downwardly and the diverging ends 25 extending upwardly. In some instances, the rods of this preferable cross-sectional form alone will be employed. However, in order to simplify mounting of the members 18 upon the rods, it is preferred that the members 18 have, in similar dart-shaped apertures 18' thereof, bushings or liners 26, which may be composed of thin sheet metal, fiber, plastics or similar material, the bushings being employed to eliminate frictional engagement of the members 18 with the rods 23. It will be understood, in this connection, that the type members 18 are composed of rubber or synthetic rubber compositions which will adapt the same to the normal use in stamps of the type and kind under consideration.

The frame 20 also includes a detachable rod 27 having spaced sockets 28 for reception of reduced ends 23' on the rods 23, the end rod 27 being detachable with respect to the ends 23' in mounting the members 18 upon the rods 23. It will also appear that the other end wall 16 of the casing 13 has a longitudinal recess 28, into which the rod 27 is adapted to be snapped by flexure of the wall 16 in support of the frame 20 with the members 18 positioned thereon within the chamber 17 of the casing 13.

Considering Fig. 1 of the drawing, it will appear that, in assemblage of the members 18 on the rods 23, spacer sleeves 29, preferably of the same general cross-section as the rods 23, are mounted on the rods 23 to locate the members 18 in a desired centralized position within the casing and with respect to each other, as is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The spacers 29 can be composed of any suitable rigid material which will definitely maintain the members 18 in position.

At this time, it should be pointed out that the arrangement of members 18 in Fig. 1 is highly exaggerated for sake of simplicity in the showing, it being understood that the casings 13, including the associated parts 19 and 12, are made in different sizes with respect to length and width. However, in the interchangeability of the device, a user might, in some instances, employ an arrangement such as shown in Fig. l on an excessively large stamp unit, particularly if a smaller stamp unit were not available at the time.

In the use of the device, the frame 20 is adapted to be swung into a raised position with respect to the casing 13, as indicated, in part, in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the detachable rod 27 removed, leaving one end of the rods 23 exposed for attachment and detachment of the members 18, as well as the spacers 29. After the desired assemblage has been arranged upon the rods, the rod 27 is coupled with the ends of the rod 23 and the frame is then moved downwardly-into the lowered operative position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, in which position the lower surfaces of the members 18 bear directly upon the bottom wall 14 of the casing and the side members 18 are disposed in close proximity to and are yieldably supported by the side walls 15 of the casing, as indi' cated in Figs. 1 and/. of the drawing. In the use of the stamp, when pressure is applied to the characters 19 in forming an imprint upon a surface, the members 18, together with the wall 14 and backing 12, will yield to the applied pressure and, in this operation, the complete frame 26 moves downwardly in the yieldable supports provided in the walls 15 and the one wall 16. Thus the entire frame maintains a common alinement with,

the characters 19 in the imprinting operation. In this connection, it will be apparent that the diverg ng upwardly extending ends of the rods 23 provide wide spread supports for. the characters 19 and, further, this cross-sectional. form of the rods 23 maintains the members 18 in proper. alinement and against rotation, thereby supporting the characters 19 against smudging, as commonly experienced in stamps of the kind under consideration.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing, I have diagrammatically illustrated a method of production of characterized members, such as the members 18, so as to provide a user with a practical supply kit, from which chtracters may be selected in constructing a hand stamp of the kind under consideration.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing, I have indicated, in part, a plan view of a moulded characterized unit 36 formed from a single sheet of rubber or synthetic rubber composition, having a multiplicity of characterizations 19 thereon and, in moulding the unit 39, the same will be moulded upon a plurality of cores 31, on which are arranged, in edge to edge relationship, the bushings 26, as clearly noted in Fig. 6 of the drawing, the bushings being of lengths to be consistent with formation of the resulting members 18 in carrying out the method. While one end portion of the cores are shown in the unit as sembly of Fig. 5, this is simply to illustrate the manner of moulding the unit. However, in completing the unit, this moulded assemblage is then cut by vertical and horizontal lines 32 and 33, respectively, to a position closely adjacent the lower surface 34 of the unit 30 to leave slight uncut portions, as at 35 in Fig. 6, which facilitates separation of the members 18 from the unit 30 and each other whenever it is desired to use the members 18; whereas, in initial handling, shipment and storage, the unit or unused part of the unit can be maintained in assembled relationship. In Fig. 6 of the drawing, the vertical cuts 32 are illustrated and it will appear that these cuts are in alinement with abutting edges of the liners 26 of adjacent members 18. At this time, it should be pointed out that, in some instances, a single tube to form the respective liners could be moulded in the unit 30, particularly when plastic and similar materials are employed and the shearing knives can then be utilized to shear the tube on the cuts 32 which transverse the tube.

It will be apparent that the reduced ends of the rods 23, where they extend into the rods 21 and 27, respectively, are of the arrow or other irregular cross-sectional form to maintain the rods 23 against rotation in 21 and 27, the rods 23 preferably being fixed in 21, but can be frictionally held in position.

In the showing of Fig. 1, the type characterizations 19 have been omitted in order to simplify the illustration, but these characterizations are indicated in several of the other views. It will also be apparent that any type and kind of supporting body can be employed for the rubber backing 12 and the casing .13.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rubber stamp employing an all rubber casing having a chamber defined by bottom, side and end walls for reception of type members, a rigid openwork frame movably supported in the side and end walls of the chamber of said casing, said frame having rod means,

apertured type members supported by said rod means snugly within the walls of said chamber, and means for retaining the frame in said casing with the characters of said type members protruding beyond limits of the side and end walls of said casing.

2. A rubber stamp as defined in claim 1, wherein said rod means and apertures of the type members are dartshaped in cross-sectional form.

3. A rubber stamp as defined in claim 1, wherein the apertures of said type members include bushings.

4. A rubber stamp of the character described, comprising a rod frame defined by end rods and longitudinal rods joining and spacing said end rods and arranged inwardly of ends of said end rods, and type members mounted on the longitudinal rods of said frame, one of said end rods being removable to permit the type members to be mounted on the longitudinal rods, said longitudinal rods being of irregular cross-sectional form, and said members having apertures of irregular cross-sectional form to snugly engage the longitudinal rods of said frame in keying the type members against rotation on said rods.

5. A rubber stamp as defined in claim 4, wherein the apertures of said type members include liners.

6. A rubber stamp of the character described, comprising a supporting body, a casing mounted on said body, said casing being defined by bottom, side and end walls of yieldable material, type members for mounting in said casing, a rod frame, said frame comprising end rods and longitudinal type member supporting rods joining and spacing said end rods and spaced longitudinally of the end rods inwardly of ends thereof, means pivotally mounting one of said end rods in side walls at one end portion of said casing, and means yieldably retaining the other end rod in the end wall at the other end of the casing, said type members bearing directly on the yieldable bottom wall of the casing and having apertures conforming in cross-sectional contour to said longitudinal rods, and said second end rod being detachable from the longitudinal rods for mounting type members on said longitudinal rods in providing a predetermined arrangement of type members in said casing.

7. A stamp as defined in claim 6, wherein said longitudinal rods are of irregular cross-sectional form to key the type members against rotation thereon.

8. A stamp as defined in claim 7, wherein the apertures of said type members include anti-frictional liners.

9. A stamp as defined in claim 6, wherein cushioning means is provided between said body and casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 557,039 Whittaker Mar. 24, 1896 565,327 Buck Aug. 4, 1896 766,337 Folger Aug. 2, 1904 796,131 Laycock Aug. 1, 1905 803,195 Schmidt Oct. 31, 1905 827,982 Laycock Aug. 7, 1906 893,977 Brown July 21, 1908 1,053,364 Dick Feb. 18, 1913 2,030,044 Beghetti Feb. 11, 1936 2,536,316 Schwartz et al. Jan. 2, 1951 2,643,417 Smith June 30, 1953 2,747,505 Bailey May 29, 1956 

